Moving to Washington State

Getting Ready to Move to Washington

There’s been a lot of talk in the world of real estate the last few years about the booming housing market in Washington State as prices and demand for homes have been on the rise. With places like Seattle offering the amenities of a large city and amazing employment opportunities with big-name companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing and more, it’s no wonder you’re ready to make your move to the state. But as you plan your upcoming move to Washington, there are some key things that you should prepare for.

Moving to any state involves a decent amount of planning and effort, and Washington is no exception, whether you’re planning to rent your home or you’ve purchased your new home outright. SmartMove is here to help save you money and find great deals on moving-related expenses like new cable and Internet service. Read this guide on moving to Washington to better prepare for your upcoming journey.

Support and Services for Moving to Washington State

It’s important to begin your search for a moving company by reviewing movers who are operating in your area, and offering moving services to Washington. Don’t be afraid to shop around until you find the best deal – one that combines quality customer service with a price you can afford. SmartMove offers a helpful tool so you can easily find reliable moving services to Washington. Combined with our detailed moving checklist, you’ll stay organized and you won’t forget to pack anything.

Reading plenty of reviews about the moving company you plan to choose is always a smart decision. Be sure to get some insight into customer care, the mover’s reputation, and their overall quality of service. If you’re planning to move to Washington on your own, you can find moving options like Uhaul, and get friends to help with packing and truck.

For anyone relocating to Washington for employment, inquire with your employer to see if there is financial assistance to support you with the move. Many companies offer financial help to alleviate some or all of the costs of moving. Remember that moving may have an impact on your federal income taxes, too. If you are moving to Washington for a job, then you may be able to claim your moving costs as a deduction. Consult with an accountant or qualified tax professional before filing your taxes.

No matter who you select for professional moving services, to help with your move, note the difference between an “order of service” and a “bill of lading.” Always get an estimate in writing: this is what’s referred to as an order of service. But the bill of lading is the actual contract for services, even if the two documents look the same. Your moving company is legally required to perform the services in the bill of lading. It’s important to get a signed contract before you move, and to keep that document secure until after you’ve arrived.

Cable Providers Available in Washington

Regardless of where you are moving to in the state of Washington, you will have to choose from the available TV and Internet service providers in your area. Whether you’re renting or buying your new home, TV, internet, and phone in all of Northern Washington are provided by either Spectrum or Xfinity. In other populous regions of the state, you can also sign up for cable with Cable One. In the less-populated parts of Eastern Washington, you may have to go with a smaller regional provider.

To learn exactly what Internet and cable service providers are available in your area, you can turn to SmartMove. We’re here to help you learn more about moving your existing service or setting up new phone, TV, and Internet service before (or after) you arrive in Washington.

There are many benefits involved with setting up your cable TV and Internet service before making the move to Washington. By planning your services in advance, you’ll save yourself unnecessary stress and avoid long delays should you have to schedule service after you’ve moved. Also check SmartMove to see if the provider in your new town is the same as your existing provider; if so, you might be able to easily just transfer services.

Energy Providers Available in Washington

Just as is the case with cable TV, and Internet, you will want to set up power, gas, and all of the other necessary utility services before you move to Washington state. Making things convenient for you, energy in the state of Washington, as well as water, sewer services, and other utilities, are all managed by a group of twenty-eight PUDs (public utility districts). These districts control the distribution of basic services and utilities in their areas of management, and also collect fees for use.

Depending on where you are moving to in Washington state, your local PUD will vary in size. By using the list of links below, you will be able to set up an account with your local PUD to get your water, gas, sewer, and electricity services turned on before you relocate to Washington.

Important Washington State Agencies and Resources

It’s said that moving from one place to another can be one of the most stressful things to deal with in life, but with careful preparation, moving to Washington doesn’t have to be difficult. By taking advantage of helpful organization tools like the moving checklist available from SmartMove, you won’t forget a thing as you prepare to move, including taking care of issues related to your automobile. In Washington state, if you need to license a car or a boat, you will want to contact the Department of Licensing, which operates licensing offices in nearly every town throughout the state. Keep in mind that Washington gives you thirty days from the date of your arrival to get a state driver’s license, and to order new plates for your vehicles.

Depending on the age and type of vehicle(s) that you have, requirements for licensing may vary. Washington state does require you to carry proof that you have auto liability insurance of $25,000 for injuries or death to another person; $50,000 for injuries or death to all other people; and $10,000 for damage to another person's property.

Research the various utility providers like cable and electricity, and spend the time required to set them up before you move. This way, you can notify each provider of your exact move date and start services up only when you need them to save money. Last but not least, you’ll want to update all of your financial services, from credit cards to banking accounts. With moving and cable service help from SmartMove, your upcoming move to Washington state will be smooth and efficient.

Disclaimer: The information is provided for general information and educational purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional advice.